Chapter 18

Gale and I arrive at the viewing and get checked in. I don't know if I should sit with him or not. It isn't as if he invited me too or anything. Yes, we'd walked here together but that was more out of convenience since he was leaving my house. I don't want to be awkward about it or stay when I'm not necessarily wanted. My eyes begin searching the crowd, looking for an excuse to slip away and I spot Prim over by a row of chairs. I still want to ask her if she'd like to help in my garden so I tell Gale that I want to talk to Prim and walk in her direction. I'm almost to her when a pair of arms grab my waist and squeeze me tightly. I look down and see that it's Rory.

"Thank you Madge!" He says as he lets me go. The gratitude on his face is so genuine, so real.

"Don't worry about it, I am happy I was able to help, really." I tell him and ruffle the top of his hair with my hand. He smiles and runs off to join his friends.

"Prim! I wanted to ask you if you would be interested in working on a little project with me after school a few days a week."

"What kind of project? At your house?"

"Yes. I'm starting a garden. A fairly large garden with lots of vegetables. I thought maybe until Katniss comes home you might want to help me with it. You could take home as much of the vegetables we grow as you wanted in exchange for your help. "

"I don't know anything about gardens but if you'll teach me, I'd love to help."

"I don't know much about it either but that just makes it more fun. We can learn together. How about I meet you at the entrance to the elementary school tomorrow after school and we get started?"

"Okay, let's do it!" Prim agrees as she grins from ear to ear.

I know it will be good for her to have project to keep her busy and even better to have one that will help provide food for her family. I personally am eager for her company. Happy that I will have a link to Katniss, my friend who I miss so much. And I know that Katniss would like that I'm looking after Prim in a way. Prim is the most important person in her whole world.

"Well, hello there Madge. How was the soup?" I hear from behind me. I know without looking that it's Tripp.

"I really enjoyed it. Thank you again for your thoughtfulness. You really didn't have to go to such trouble for me."

"It wasn't any trouble. I wanted to check on you, to o make sure you were feeling better and I know when I'm sick my mother always insists I eat her chicken soup. Figured that might be just what you needed too." He tells me, smiling at me. I can tell he's glad I enjoyed it. And I think he's happy to be able to speak to me without Gale cutting in.

"How did you know I was sick anyway? You aren't in my classes." I ask him, suddenly curious as to how he'd known.

"Oh, well, I just noticed you weren't at lunch and I asked around. Grayson Meyer said he'd sold your housekeeper some cold medicine for you at the drug store that morning. I kinda put two and two together." He says, looking just a bit embarrassed.

"Oh, I see. Well, I feel light years better than I did this morning and I should be back at school tomorrow, good as new."

He's opened his mouth and is about to say something else to me when Gale comes up and pulls my hand towards a row of chairs. "Hey, saved you a seat over here. C'mon."

"I'd better go. Enjoy the viewing, I'll see you tomorrow at school." I say to Tripp as Gale continues to lead me away. Tripp nods and gives a little bit of a wave but I can see frustration in his face. He has had more than enough of Gale's recent antics I think. Though I'm not sure when he suddenly started taking such an interest in me. I never remember him talking to me much outside of simple Café transactions but he does suddenly seem more interested.

"So you saved me a seat, huh?" I ask Gale while raising an eyebrow at him.

"That's what I said." He shrugs as he sits, pretending he didn't just pull his little "save her from Tripp" stunt again.

"Well thank you for that. Don't you want to go sit with your friends though?"

"Nah, I'm good. There's a girl I can't get enough of over here." He says with a smirk.

I tilt my head to the side a touch and my mouth parts a little in shock. Me? Does he mean me? It's right then that I notice Posy sitting on his other side. I quickly collect myself and hope that my face hadn't given away my thoughts. How silly could I be? Of course he was referring to Posy.

We stand as the anthem of Panem plays and then the viewing begins. Tonight is when they post the scores given to the tributes by the gamemakers. They don't go into the details of why a specific score is given but the better the score, the more likely you are to obtain sponsors. Sponsors are the only way to have a chance to win the games. Katniss and Peeta were off to a good start with the flaming costumes on presentation night. I hope that they are able to score high enough to at least maintain a little interest. Turns out that they do better than most expected. Katniss matches the scores usually reserved for the Careers with an 11. Usually tributes from our district are lucky to score a 5 or 6. When her 11 flashed on the screen cheers erupted from the district audience and I'd shared a massive grin with Prim. My hope for Katniss is soaring again. I think she really may be a contender this year.

I know it can be dangerous to be so hopeful but I just can't help myself. She's just off to a phenomenal start.

After the viewing concludes I say goodnight to Posy and Prim and when I turn to tell Gale goodnight he just shakes his head and takes my elbow in hand leading me from the crowd towards my house.

"You think I can't walk home alone?" I tease him.

"I may be from the Seam but I still have manners." He teases back.

"I think maybe you're just afraid Tripp will do it for you if you let me out of your sight."

He smiles and shrugs a bit but doesn't say anything. We walk quietly to my house and I find myself wishing I lived further away so our walk could continue a little longer. We reach my house and walk around to the back porch. I'm standing on the steps and I turn to face him.

"Well, thanks for seeing me home. It was very mannerly of you." I tease.

"Madge, I really can't begin to thank you for everything. There aren't even words that seem to tell you how grateful I am." He says, serious as ever.

"Gale, you've got to stop thanking me. I wanted to do it for you and for your family. You don't have to keep on about it."

"Guess I'll just say goodnight then." He practically whispers, staring right into my eyes.

"Goodnight Gale" I whisper back, my breath quickening as my heart rate picks up.

He leans in and ever so quickly, ever so gently kisses me. My breath stops, my heart races and I can't speak. He doesn't speak either. Just turns and heads off into the night leaving me to bask in the excitement of his kiss. My very first kiss.